Segun Atanda/
Here are videos and photos from the scene of the accident on Otedola Bridge along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway today, in which the police in Lagos have confirmed nine dead and 54 vehicles burnt:
Here’s a statement on the incident from the police in Lagos:
PRESS RELEASE
FUEL LADEN TANKER EXPLODES, 54 VEHICLES ENGULFED, 9 FATALITIES RECORDED .
Today 28/06/2018, at about 16.30hrs the police received a distress call that a tanker, laden with fuel was on fire, on the slope opposite Omole phase 2 gate, about 100metres away from the Otedola bridge, on the side of the road leading to lbadan.
The police quickly alerted the Fire Service Department about the incident and mobilised personnel of police divisions proximal to the scene of accident for rescue operation.
When the fire was eventually controlled, 54 vehicles were burnt and 9 bodies burnt beyond recognition were recovered.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, commiserates with families of those who lost their beloved ones in the accident, urging to them to take heart. He warned drivers of articulated vehicles, especially fuel tanker drivers and all those transporting highly inflammable products, to comply with all safety regulations to make our roads safer.
Meanwhile, rescue operation is ongoing. The CP has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, DCP Muhammad Ali Ari to coordinate the operation whlle the Commander Rapid Response Squad(RRS) is to collaborate with the FRSC and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA ) to ensure the debris of burnt vehicles are removed and the road flushed and opened to traffic again.
CSP Chike Oti
Police Public Relations Officer
Lagos State